There is never a dull moment at the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU), whose audited financial statements revealed a hefty $342,150 in severance payments from last year. The statements do not indicate the number of employees who received severance packages.

“Severance payments include one-time severance, unpaid overtime, vacation, and other associated benefits paid during the year to a legally confidential number of employees upon termination of their employment. The UTSU has retained legal counsel to determine the suitability of these payments,” reads the note attached to the severance payments line item in the budget.

A portion of the payments allegedly went to former UTSU director Sandy Hudson. The amount she reportedly received remains confidential.

Neither Hudson nor current UTSU president Ben Coleman chose to elaborate on the situation. “I am not able to provide any further details at this time,” Coleman said when asked for comment. Similarly, The Varsity contacted Hudson, who stated that she was not allowed to talk about the severance payment issue.

Hudson served two terms as UTSU president between 2008 and 2010, after which time she became the chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario until 2012. Hudson returned to the UTSU as their executive director in September 2012 and left shortly before the current UTSU executives took office.

With files from Enxhi Kondi

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